New Drag x Drive credits surface

Credits reveal a 20-person core team on Drag x Drive and mark Hisashi Nogami as producer.

Nogami Joins Tiny Nintendo Team for Drag x Drive Credits

Drag x Drive released on Nintendo Switch 2 yesterday. The credits show a core development team of about twenty people. The lineup includes director/program director Yoshinori Konishi and producer Hisashi Nogami, who is known for steering Animal Crossing titles and later shaping the Splatoon series. This is the first credit outside those two franchises in more than a decade.

Initial reviews have begun to surface as players test Drag x Drive on the Switch 2. The project sits inside Nintendo's broader plan to refresh its hardware with a new generation while keeping familiar faces in charge. Analysts will judge whether a small team can deliver a polished experience that meets fans' high expectations.

Lean teams can move fast, but they also face limits on scope and longevity. Nogami’s inclusion as producer links Drag x Drive to Nintendo's most trusted franchises, potentially boosting marketing power and quality expectations.

This moment reflects how Nintendo uses internal talent across projects. A Switch 2 launch adds pressure to deliver a smooth experience, and a credited project outside Animal Crossing and Splatoon offers a test case for how the company balances legacy with new ideas.

Highlights

Time will tell if small teams can redefine a big company's trajectory.